Department of Numbers

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Arizona Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Phoenix rose 0.1 percentage points in October 2023 to 3.7%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.5 percentage points lower than the Arizona rate. The unemployment rate in Phoenix peaked in April 2020 at 12.9% and is now 9.2 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.0% in April 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.7 percentage points. You can also compare Phoenix unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate October 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.9% +0.1 +0.2
Arizona 4.2% +0.2 +0.1
Phoenix 3.7% +0.1 +0.3
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with October 2023 data as November metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Phoenix, Arizona, National

Phoenix, Arizona monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Phoenix, Arizona Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Phoenix peaked in April 2020 at 308,230. There are now 208,578 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 79,300 in April 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 20,352. Phoenix employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Phoenix, Arizona) is also available.

Unemployed Persons October 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Phoenix 99,652 +3,406 +10,123

Number of Unemployed Persons

Phoenix, Arizona Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Arizona
Unemployment Rate
Phoenix
Unemployment Rate
Phoenix
Unemployed
November
2023
3.7%
October
2023
3.9% 4.2% 3.7% 99,652
September
2023
3.8% 4.0% 3.6% 96,246
August
2023
3.8% 3.8% 3.5% 93,344
July
2023
3.5% 3.6% 3.4% 89,472
June
2023
3.6% 3.5% 3.2% 84,445
May
2023
3.7% 3.4% 3.1% 81,069
April
2023
3.4% 3.4% 3.0% 79,300
March
2023
3.5% 3.5% 3.1% 79,921
February
2023
3.6% 3.7% 3.1% 81,630
January
2023
3.4% 3.8% 3.2% 84,476
December
2022
3.5% 4.0% 3.4% 88,539

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.